UN Protests Spotlight Belize’s Diplomatic Position

Empty seats delivered some of the loudest messages at the United Nations this week. Delegates walked out during speeches by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza and Trump’s criticism of Cuba. Belize did not join either demonstration, despite its close relationship with Cuba and its suspension of diplomatic ties with Israel in 2023. Tonight, News Five’s Britney Gordon examines the protests and Belize’s position.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

This was the scene at the eighty-first United Nations General Assembly this week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to the podium. Reports say representatives from more than seventy countries walked out in support of Palestine, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued his address undeterred.

 

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel

“Before I begin, just a quick announcement, if there are any moral cowards who haven’t left this hall, please do so now. Thank you very much.”

 

Belize was among those absent during Netanyahu’s speech; however, we did not walk out; according to Foreign Affairs CEO Oscar Arnold, our delegation was already absent from the chamber.

 

Oscar Arnold, CEO Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“Being here at the UN for high level week, we also had several other meeting during the discussions where our delegation had to be split, I believe there was a presentation on restitutions and recovering artifacts of cultural heritage that was on our agenda, that was high on our agenda because that also had a context of reparations that Belize now also forms part of a commission in the Caribbean. There were other couple other bilaterals, so we didn’t have any of our high level diplomats in the chambers when those discussions were taking place.”

Another highly anticipated speech saw the exit of UN members when Cuban diplomats walked out after U.S. President Donald Trump referred to the country as a failed state.

 

Donald Trump, President of the United States

“My administration is also seeking a fundamental change in the situation in Cuba where the communist regime is under great pressure.  The biggest pressure they’ve ever been under. It’s an absolutely failed state.”

 

Cuba blames tighter U.S. sanctions for worsening blackouts, inflation and shortages. On Belize’s side, the country cut diplomatic ties with Israel in 2023 in support of Palestine and upholds friendly relations with Cuba.

 

Oscar Arnold

“In so far as our foreign affairs policy, we support Palestine. We have always done so.  We’ve done so when other countries did not do it, and our support for Palestine will continue.”

 

Paul Lopez

And Cuba?”

 

Oscar Arnold

“Yes.”

 

An independent UN commission concluded that Israel’s actions in Gaza amounted to genocide, though the finding is not the UN’s official position. UN experts have also criticized recent U.S. sanctions on Cuba, warning that they are worsening humanitarian conditions and restricting essential supplies. Prime Minister John Briceño takes the UN podium Saturday at seven a.m. Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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